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Laureen Botticelli is a happily married to her high school sweetheart, and work at home mom of three, twin four year old boys and the littlest man Nico, age two. She is a baby planner and the owner of Bump, Baby,& Beyond by Kiddie Loot. She writes the mommy blog, The Momccupation. Laureen is a San Diego native who just moved back after teaching Family and Consumer Science and Health Science in Las Vegas for five years. She has a Master's in education and BA from San Diego State University, and loves teaching new moms.

Review Of The Hunger Games Movie

If there ever was a movie destined to be in the top money-makers of the year, this would be the one. Are you a fan, avid reader or are you just curious to see what all the fuss is about?

Photo Credit: Lionsgate Publicity

Lionsgate Entertainment is releasing THE HUNGER GAMES on Friday, March 23rd. They took on the daunting task of turning this amazing page turner into a movie. I loved the trilogy, yes there are three books!

Here is the synopsis:

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hunger Games is directed by Gary Ross, with a screenplay by Gary Ross, author Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik.

The Hunger Games was published in 2008 and written by the amazingly creative mind of Suzanne Collins. It was followed by Catching Fire and MockingJay, the last in the series. The series has spent more than 160 consecutive weeks/more than three consecutive years to date on The New York Times bestseller list since its publication in September 2008, and has also appeared consistently on USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.

The young adult fiction phenomenon that followed the likes of Harry Potter and Twilight, is now visible again with the passionate fans of all ages that are so excited for the books and movies. The first book was a best-seller and on the New York Times best seller list 38 weeks straight, and Suzanne Collins has been dubbed the most popular author ever on the Amazon Kindle. “What sets the trilogy apart is Collins’s willingness to take on big issues: war, power, sacrifice, personal ethics, the haves vs. the have-nots, and the dangerous nature of our increasingly voyeuristic society. ” says Emily Listfield of Parade.

Go see it!! If you are an adult and don’t want to listen to the screaming teens then wait a week before braving the crowds of crazy fans wearing all their costumes in line! Yes, there were costumes and had I been allowed to bring a camera or phone to the preview I would have taken a picture for you. The movie is rated PG-13, mainly because of the violence in the movie. Though the producers did a good job keeping the violence to a minimum in a movie about kids and teenagers killing other young people.

The movie does a relatively good job of explaining the basic plot and many of the book’s details as well. Jennifer Lawrence does a excellent job in her role as Katniss, you may recognize her from X Men; First Class or Winter’s Bone (in which her performance was recognized with an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress). Josh Hutcherson plays Peeta Mellark, and does a good job in the role. I would have liked to see a bulkier, manly young adult play Peeta, but he does a good job nonetheless. You may remember him from the Kids Are Alright, Journey to the center of the Earth, and Journey 2 out in theaters now as well. Haymitch is played by Woody Harrelson whom we all know and love…especially his many crazy roles. He is the perfect Haymitch and I love him in the movie. Stanley Tucci is Ceasar, and his crazy outfits and hairstyles were a perfect fit. All the parts were well-cast and Gale was exactly as I pictured him as played by Liam Hemsworth. Even though his part is minuscule in the first movie, we will get to see much more of him in the next two movies.

Overall I give the movie a A. This is not a movie for young children and there are many different topics touched in the movie that would be confusing to younger audiences.